Lesotho & South Africa Series Part 3: The history of Boer Republics in present-day South Africa

The Dutch set up a colony in southern Africa at a location now called the Cape of Good Hope in 1652. This colony was called the Dutch Cape Colony.

In 1656, Dutch-speaking people of Dutch, German and French ethnicity would begin to settle in the Dutch Cape Colony, establishing themselves there over time.

They would develop their own language, Afrikaans, over time, and come to be known as the Boers. Arriving in the Cape of Good hope in 1656, the Boers would soon begin settling in other parts of the colony, and even outside of the colony, forming republics such as Stellaland and Goshen in 1882.

Republics formed by the Boers were called Boer republics. Only the last 2 of these Boer republics achieved full independence and international recognition. There have been a total of 16 Boer republics in present-day South Africa.

So, why did the Dutch-speaking settlers settle in the Dutch Cape Colony? Many Boers settled in the Dutch Cape Colony to flee religious persecution in Europe.

The Dutch East India Company, which controlled business and trade in the Dutch Cape Colony, gave freedom to the Dutch-speaking settlers who settled in the Dutch Cape Colony.

The Republic of Swellendam

However, this freedom paved the way for Boer uprisings, the first of which occured in the town of Swellendam in 1795. This uprising resulted in the creation of the first Boer republic, the Republic of Swellendam, which would not last to see 1796.

However, the Republic of Swellendam would lay the foundation for future Boer republics in present- day South Africa.

Flag of the Republic of Swellendam, which is used by the Netherlands today